Game apparatus



J. P. BOGGESS GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1952 cfflioggednf wzsyawm Aug. 21, 1934. J. P, 50 535 1,970,731

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I or Patented Aug. 21, 1934- r A ENT OFFICE 1,970,731 GAME APPARATUS- .John P. Bogge ss, Fairmont, W. Va.

1 .lApplic-ation. January .14,

1932, .Serial' No. 586,646

5 claims.v (or. 273-443) This invention relates to recreational devices and especially to games of chance, such as are played at Monte Carlo and other internationally known resorts.

One of the objects of the invention resides in providing in a single apparatus means for playing games of chance such as roulette, rouge et noiigbacca'rat (a deux tableau x'and chemin de fer), faro, cardroll, v-ingtet un (with either-cards or dice representations), chuck luck, craps, under and over '7, andjhorse racing.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a construction and operation which will increase the interest and enjoyment ll-5 of the games mentioned.

, A still further object of the invention resides in providing a construction which will insure the fair and impartial playing of the games at all times. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the complete apparatus with the cover removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a tranverse sectional view taken on line 3- 3 of Figure-2. c

Figure 4 is a detailview of a portion of the hoodor cover of the apparatus indicating observation openings and shutters for the same,

and

Fig-urea is asectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4. g

Refer-ring todrawi-ngs in more detail numeral 1 indicates the base portion of the cabinet provided with substantially circular end plates 2, preferably of wood. The mechanism to be described is normally inclosed by a cylindrical metal casing 3, which has its longitudinal edgessecured to the base 1 and its circular ends connected to the wooden end pieces 2.

Extending longitudinally through the center of the casing is a shaft 4 having its ends mounted in bearings formed in the sections 2. The shaft is preferably supported intermediate its ends by bearing 5 carried on a bracket 6 mounted on the bottom of the member 1. Longitudinal movement of the shaft 4 with respect to the casing 3 is prevented by means of collars 7 and 8, which are secured to the shaft immediately inside of the end plates 2.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 4 are five cylinders, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Each of these cylinders which are preferably formed of galvanized sheet iron bands, includes in addition to the band it self a plurality of spokes 14 which have their inner ends secured'in a hub 15. In each hub I5 is secured a hollow brass sleeve 16 as by means of a driving fit. These sleeves provide bearing. mem here for the several cylinders in their rotative movement, about the shaft 4, and also .se'rvelto maintain the proper. relationship between the cylinders and the display openings. to be. described. v

Integrally formed on each hub 15 is a ratchet wheel 18 and adjacent each ratchetwheel is an arm 19'fixed to the shaft 4 by. means of a setscrew 20. Pivotally mounted on the free end of each arm 19 is a. gravitationally operated pawl 21'; the pawl being normally held with its free end adjacent the teeth of the respective ratchet wheel l8 by means of a rigid stop-member 22 .carriedby the arm. From an inspection of Figure 3, it will be apparent that as the arm 19 is rotated in a clockwise direction the pawl 21 will automatically engage the teeth of its para ticular ratchet wheel shortly after the pawl leaves its lowermost position and will thus cause the cylinder to revolve. with the shaft 4,, and the pawl will be disengaged from the. ratchet wheel shortly after it leaves its uppermost position as indicated in dotted lines. After the pawl releases the ratchet wheel the cylinder will. of

course, continue tov rotate about the shaft 4 and the speed of rotation will depend upon the rapidity with which the shaft 4 was initially operated. The preferred means for imparting a rotary movement to the shaft 4 consists of cross bars 23 which are secured to a part of the shaft extending beyond the casing as indicated in Figure 2. It may also be mentioned that all of the arms 19 extend downwardly from the shaft 4 and hence a rotary movement may be imparted to the cylinders by merely employing the index finger to lift one of the cross bars through 180, the weight of the arms thereafter causing the shaft to rotate through another 180 to bring the arms to their lowermost positions.

It is desirable to rotate certain of the cylinders in a clockwise direction and the other cylinders in a counter-clockwise direction, and to this end it will be noted that some of the ratchet wheels are mounted on the shaft 4 with their teeth ex tending in one direction and the others with their teeth extending in the opposite direction. By this means the shaft may be first rotated in a clockwise direction and then in a counter-clockwise direction so as to cause all of the five cylinders to be set in operation, some of them rotating in a clockwise direction and the others in a counterclockwise direction.

From an inspection of Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that the casing 3 is provided with a plurality of windows or openings 24 through which a portion of the cylinders used for playing the particular game, may be observed. These win dows are provided with independent shutters slidably mounted in guides 27 so that if only one game is being played at a particular time the other windows may be shut so as to conceal the cylinders not being used. Obviously some means is necessary to cause each cylinder to stop in a position with one of its symbols registering with window 24, and for this purpose magnets 26are employed. The various symbols employed on the cylinders are indicated in Fig. 1 and in order that the magnets may cooperate with the cylinders. to cause the proper stopping thereof, each cylinder is provided with a series of teeth on one of its edges, the number of teeth corresponding with the number of symbols on the particular cylinder and being so disposed with respect to the symbols that when the magnet exerts sufficient force on a tooth to bring the cylinder to a standstill one of the symbols will be displayed through the window.

In the embodiment'of the invention shown in Figure 1 each of the live cylinders is provided with an annular series of symbols adapted for use in playing one or more gamesthese symbols being applied to annular bands which may be glued or otherwise secured to the surface of the cylinders. The numbers indicated on the cyline der 9 are intended for use'in playing roulette, the representation of horses and the numbers appearing at the right of the horses on cylinder 10 are useful in playing a horse racing game, the representation of playing cards, etc., on cylinder 11 are for use in playing games termed cardroll, baccara, faro,. etc., and the representation of the faces of dice on cylinders 12 and 13 are useful in playing chuck-luck, under and over '7, vingt et un, etc. I

A description of the several methods employed in playing the games is believed to be neither necessary nor desirable-inasmuch as the procedure is substantiallythe same as that used in the playing of the several games with dice, cards, etc., except that the representationof these elements is indicated on the drums which are rotated and then brought to a stop by the magnets. From the foregoing description .taken in connection with the accompanying drawings itwill be seen that I have devised a'fairly simple and in-. expensive construction adapted 'for use. in the playing of a multiplicity of games; that the games may be played simultaneously or individually as desired; and that the apparatus is so designed as to insure the fair and impartial playing of the games at all times.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I now believe to be the preferred form of construction, but inasmuch as various minor changes may be made in the details of cons'truction without departing from the spirit of the invention all such changes are intended to be included Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A game apparatus including a shaft, an integral hub and ratchet wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, a cylinder fixed to the hub, an arm fixed to? the shaft, a pawl freely pivoted on said arm, a stop carried by said arm and normally holding the free end of the pawl adjacent the teeth of theratchet wheel, and means for rotating the shaft. v 2. A game apparatus including a shaft, a P1511? rality of cylinders loosely mounted on the shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to each cylinder, the teeth of alternate ratchet wheels projecting in opposite directions, an arm fixed to said shaft adjacent each ratchet wheel, a pawl pivoted to each arm and adapted to cooperate with a ratchet Wheel, andmeans for actuating the shaft. v

3. A game apparatus including a rotatable cylinder formed of metal, a series of symbols on said cylinder, serrations formed on said cylinder, and a magnet so disposed as to cooperate with the teeth of said serrations, wherebythe cylinder will be caused to stop at somepoint in which one of the symbols will register with a predetermined point. p

4. A game apparatus including a plurality of rotatable cylinders, a plurality of metal teeth spaced about the periphery of each cylinder, symbols spaced about each cylinder in accordance with the spacing of said teeth, and magnetic means for causing each of the cylinders to stop with one of its symbols in registration with a predetermined point. a

5. A game apparatus including a casing having a plurality of windows therein, a shaft extending through said casing, a plurality of rotatable cylinders on said shaft, symbols depicted on said cylinders for playing various games, markings adjacent the several windows indicating the particular game played at each window, and independently operated shutters for each window.

1 JOHN P. BOGGESS. 

